Wednesday, April 23, 2014

I continue to work on photos taken during the Triduum and Easter. I'm almost done, but would like to share what I have done, along with the homilies of Fr. Aidan Logan, O.C.S.O. He has sent me text for all four days. I have photos and sermons up for Holy Thursday and Good Friday. I will update this post with links to Easter Vigil, and Easter Sunday links for both photos and sermons, probably tomorrow. So, check this post for an update. I am post-dating all of these things to their original dates, so this post will stay on top.

Each of the photo posts will have a link to more photos at my Smugmug gallery. I prefer that links be made to the respective blog post since it provides background, place, names, etc. People will find the gallery through the blog post.

Saturday, April 19, 2014

This public debate over Holy Thursday foot-washing is getting old and tired. The secular press, and even some in the Catholic sphere, discuss this to the point of detracting from the Mass of the Lord's Supper. The ceremony involving foot-washing isn't even required and was absent for some period until it was brought back in 1955. Since there is so much controversy surrounding it, I was not planning to discuss it and I don't care to comment on the prudential decisions of the Holy Father or my Archbishop. It's not my place.

The article is a perfect example of how foot washing has come to dominate Holy Thursday in the eyes of many inside and outside of the Church. Perhaps some good would come from suspending the practice again for a time so we can all take stock of the fact that the Eucharist was instituted on Holy Thursday! I doubt that will happen.

Let's look at that part of the article dealing with Detroit (my intra-text comments bracketed in red). I'm snipping some text out to save space so read it all there.

At metro Detroit parishes, women have been included in the foot-washing ritual for decades. Detroit Catholic Archbishop Allen Vigneron poured water onto the feet of five women and seven men at the Holy Thursday mass at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral. [This is a prudential decision, following a 1987 USCCB document which varies from what is in the Sacramentary, so no comment]

In 1987, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops urged [???] that women be included in the ritual, and it’s been standard practice in many parishes, although it’s left to the discretion of individual bishops and parish pastors, said Dan McAfee, the Detroit archdiocese’s Christian worship director.

Since the text of the second paragraph above is not in quotes I do not know what is coming from the reporter and what is coming from Dan McAfee. It may be paraphrased and embellished. The document does NOT "urge" anything; rather, it tells priests and bishops they MAY deviate from what is in the Sacramentary. Let's look at the two relevant paragraphs from the 1987 USCCB letter and you will find nothing "urging" anything. Feel free to read the entire letter. Here are paragraphs 4 & 5.

4. Because the gospel of the mandatum read on Holy Thursday also depicts Jesus as the "Teacher and Lord" who humbly serves his disciples by performing this extraordinary gesture which goes beyond the laws of hospitality, the element of humble service has accentuated the celebration of the foot washing rite in the United States over the last decade or more. In this regard, it has become customary in many places to invite both men and women to be participants in this rite in recognition of the service that should be given by all the faithful to the Church and to the world. Thus, in the United States, a variation in the rite developed in which not only charity is signified but also humble service.[An unfortunate method of getting Church laws changed is to first break a law until a practice becomes popular, then make it the law.]

5. While this variation may[?!?!?]differ from the rubric of the Sacramentary which mentions only men ("viri selecti"), it may nevertheless be said that the intention[this is "spirit of" language which was used to introduce many innovations]to emphasize service along with charity in the celebration of the rite is an understandable way of accentuating the evangelical command of the Lord, "who came to serve and not to be served," that all members of the Church must serve one another in love.

Continuing with the Detroit Free Press article, quoting Fr. Perrone:

Some Catholic pastors adhere to a traditional interpretation. [No. It is not "traditional interpretation" to follow Church law].

“We’ll have 12 men dressed as apostles and they have their feet washed in the ceremony,” said the Rev. Eduard Perrone, pastor of Assumption Grotto Catholic Church in northeast Detroit. “That’s the tradition in the church and we’ve not deviated from that.”

Looking at how Fr. Perrone was quoted, the first question that popped into my head when I read this was: Did Father get baited asked if he was washing the feet of women this year, without being told it was a story about the Archbishop of Detroit washing women's feet? I have not talked with Fr. Perrone yet so I do not know, but a young adult altar server who told me of the article wondered likewise.

I find it interesting that Patricia Montemurri decided to zero in on Assumption Grotto, as if she didn't already know the answer to the question. This was just a way to take a jab at people minding their own business on a controversial issue, in one of very few parishes using the 1962 Missal, and attempting to apply public pressure to drive change.

Those who advocate for tolerance do so as long as you don't take notice of their intolerance of those who choose to do what is within their right. It's unfortunate that other Catholics, especially in the comment box at the Free Press article, would choose to be critical of a practice at Assumption Grotto that is in harmony with Church law and is not criticized by the Archbishop of Detroit or his Christian worship director. The Pope himself has not criticized those who do not wash the feet of women and in one year's time, he has not made it a point to change the law! If he wanted to "urge" every priest to include the feet of women in the ceremony, he could have done it with the stroke of a pen!

I keep saying law because it is not a simple rubric; it involves canon law. The Free Press author quoted blogging canonist Ed Peters (my emphasis in bold).

Edward Peters, a church canon law expert at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, wrote on his blog, canonlawblog.wordpress.com, in 2013 that Francis was setting a “questionable example” by washing women’s feet, because a 1988 letter from the Vatican’s Congregation for Divine Worship states that only “chosen men” can be admitted to the ceremony. [I cannot find the specific blog post citing the 1988 letter, but Ed has written extensively on this controversy and you can sift through them allin this search of his blog]

Peters, in an email this week, said he doesn’t oppose women being in the ceremony, he feels that church law should make it clear that it’s acceptable. [Whether one agrees or not on women being in the ceremony, there is the whole problem with violating existing laws without changing them, which causes nothing but confusion, controversy, and quarrels]

“Outdated Church laws should be removed but the system for doing that is not being observed in this area. [Exactly, though I don't agree that this one is outdated].The current situation, therefore — that of having a law on the books, but one not observed locally or in Rome — breeds confusion about what law is for in the Church,” Peters wrote. [Bingo. So there are at least two problems: One is the question of women in the ceremony, when Christ could have washed the feet of women that night; and secondly, the question of consequences to breaking Church law to observe a particular practice, rather than working to first change the law, if there are grounds for changing them (mindful that the Holy Father has power to bind and loose, and it causes fewer problems when done formally.)]

Odell Roberts, 69, of Allen Park participated in the past as one of the 12 parishioners in the ritual at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral. Cardinal Adam Maida, the archdiocese’s leader from 1990 to 2009, washed her feet.

“It was very special,” she said.

I'm a woman who pretty much grew up watching women's feet get washed at local parishes on Holy Thursday when I did go, along with many other liturgical innovations. Truth be told, I don't recall seeing it any other way until I got to Assumption Grotto in 2005. As a female, I can probe the depths of spiritual lessons during the foot-washing of all males because my active participation in the Mass and liturgical ceremonies is deeply interior and not dependent on "doing" something. In fact, the less I do the more I can participate (contrary to popular belief, I'd rather not be photographing, but do so because it is a service to others who do not have access to this beautiful form of the liturgy). Inclusiveness doesn't come from being up in the sanctuary; it's a response to God's grace to give my entire being in worship and prayer while observing and reflecting right along with all the other men in the pews not having their feet washed.

Once again, it is so regrettable that we have seen few discussions about the institution of the Eucharist on Holy Thursday. What a lost opportunity to catechize the faithful on the Eucharist at a time in history when we know people lack a deep understanding. I know so many Catholics who are just fine with their children and grand-children leaving the Church for other Christian churches and groups, as long as they go to some Church. Yet, there's no concern for them not having access to the Eucharist and other Sacraments where they go. People who haven't set foot in a confessional in years go up to Communion in droves. These things are telling our pastors something and we talk about foot-washing?

Something is messed up and it's fruit is confusion, conflict, and quarreling - all amidst an ongoing mass ignorance of the Eucharist.

Photo at top taken at Assumption Grotto on April 17, 2014 at the Mass of the Lord's Supper, during the foot washing ceremony. Fr. Eduard Perrone, the pastor of Assumption Grotto, using the 1962 Missal, washes the foot of a man. He is joined by the deacon of this Solemn High Mass, Fr. Aidan Logan, o.c.s.o. (hooded); and the subdeacon, Fr. John Bustamante, who is the associate pastor of Assumption Grotto.

For interesting news items I don't have time to blog on, check out my Twitter Feed: @TeDeumBlog

Friday, April 18, 2014

Each year the Grotto altar boys have their annual retreat during Holy Week. This year there were 45 boys. They work hard in preparing for the Triduum in the extraordinary form (1962 Missal). They also spend time in prayer and have conferences given by the priests, as well as outings, like the one to the final resting place of Venerable Solanus Casey.

Below is a sampling of photos from the Tre Ore service.

Above we see the sacred ministers - Fr. Eduard Perrone (celebrant), Fr. Aidan Logan (deacon) and Fr. John Bustamante (subdeacon) - all wearing black stoles. They will change vestments several times during the Tre Ore service. In the picture above, Fr. Perrone is praying, in Latin:

O God who, by the Passion of Thy Christ, our Lord, hast loosened the bonds of death, that heritage of the first sin to which all men of later times did succeed: make us so conformed to Him that, as we must needs have bourne the likeness of earthly nature, so we may by santification bear the likeness of heavenly grace. Through the same Christ our Lord. R. Amen.

Next the Passion of Our Lord was chanted by the sacred ministers.

After the Gospel, Fr. Aidan Logan, O.C.S.O. delivered the sermon, found here.

The Great Intercessions followed, after the priests vested in black.

The Adoration of the Cross begins. We see it come out covered in purple and gradually uncovered as it is taken up the steps before the altar.

Next, the sacred ministers remove their shoes and socks with the assistance of altar boys and process back to the altar where they venerate the Cross.

Other clerics in attendance follow, and after them, the altar boys. The boys in the foreground do not have darker surplices; it is just a difference in lighting within parts of the sanctuary. During this time, the Reproaches are sung, as well as the Crux Fidelis (The words can be found here, but the Great Intercessions have undergone changes and this online version is as it was in the post-1955 edition).

The people were then led up to the center and in front of either side altar to venerate the Cross.

The Communion Rite then began. We See Fr. Logan here taking the Blessed Sacrament from the Altar of Repose to the main altar, as well as that which was stored in a room within the sacristy.

Since there is no Mass, this Holy Communion, which was reserved, will be distributed. I did not photograph Communion.

Below is the text of Fr. Aidan Logan's sermon which was delivered during the Tre Ore service at Assumption Grotto. He is seen above taking the Blessed Sacrament from the Altar of Repose to the main Altar just before Communion on Good Friday.

Sermon

Good Friday, 2014

Assumption Grotto Church, Detroit

But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead,

they did not break his legs,

but one soldier thrust his lance into his side,

and immediately blood and water flowed out.

An eyewitness has testified, and his testimony is true;

he knows that he is speaking the truth,

so that you also may come to believe.

For this happened so that the Scripture passage might be
fulfilled:

“Not a bone of it will be broken.”

And again another passage says:

“They will look upon him whom they have
pierced.”

We are so used to hearing the gospel accounts
of our Lord’s passion and death that we can miss things that that for those who
wrote them and who first heard them were of great importance. The piercing of
our Lord’s side and the blood and water that poured out is a case in point.
Jesus is dead. The perfect and eternal sacrifice is complete. What more can be
said? A great deal!

In sacred scripture blood is much more than a
biological phenomenon. Blood is the very stuff of life. We might even say that
for Moses and the prophets blood was where the soul resided. And in a certain
sense they were right. Remove the blood or stop the heart of any living thing
and death is inevitable.

From the very beginning blood has almost a
personality of it’s own. Behold, said
God to Cane, your brother’s blood is
crying out from the ground. The
blood of the Passover Lamb saved the firstborn of Israel. The covenant of Sinai
was sealed with blood sprinkled upon the altar, the book of the law and the
people. The Law of Moses forbade the consumption of blood and contact with
blood rendered one ritually impure. Because the spilling of blood meant death,
contact with blood incurred, if not absolute guilt, then at least involvement
in death.

This explains why the crowd was so perplexed
and even outragedwhen, in response to
their question “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”Jesus said: Unless you eat he flesh and drink the blood of the Son of Man you have
no life in you. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life and I
will raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is
real drink.

One of the soldiers pierced his side with a lance and
immediately the flowed out blood and water. Not
just a trickle but a flow and in reality an overwhelming torrent! For this is
not any ordinary blood and water coming from a dead body hanging on a cross.
This is the lifeblood of God-made-man.

In St. Matthew’s passion narrative we read:

When Pilate saw that he was not succeeding at all,

but that a riot was breaking out instead,

he took water and washed his hands in the sight of the crowd,

saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood.

Look to it yourselves.”

And the whole people said in reply,

“His blood be upon us and upon our children.”

“His blood be upon us and upon our children.” These chilling words,
like so much else in the passion of Christ, are words of unintended prophesy.
Uttered in hatred they reveal to us the infinite love of God.

Is it not better that one man should die for the people? … All
hail, king of the Jews! … I find no guilt in him. … Over his head they wrote
the accusation: Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.

His blood be upon us and upon our children. And it is. It is upon all of us. By our sins we are all
implicated in his death. By his mercy we are washed clean of sin in his blood.
His blood cries out from the ground more loudly and eloquently than that of
Able. Not to accuse of sin but to call down upon us the mercy and love of God.
His blood marks the doorposts of our souls warding off the angel of eternal death
and beaconing that angel who will lead us to eternal life. His blood be upon us and upon our children.

This flow, this mighty torrent of blood and
water is the sacramental life of the Church. It is inexhaustible. It springs up
wherever the waters of Baptism flow, wherever the Chalice of Salvation is
lifted up. Our Lord calls to each of us from the royal throne of his cross:

Washed and be made clean! Come, drink of the fountain of eternal
life!

His blood be upon us and upon our children. What better prayer can we offer on this Good Friday? How else
can we respond to the infinite love of God revealed to us on the cross? Is
there any other way to accept with all our hearts the boundless mercy and
compassion of God revealed in our Lord Jesus Christ than to say with all our
hearts: His blood be upon us and upon our
children?

For interesting news items I don't have time to blog on, check out my Twitter Feed: @TeDeumBlog

Here are pics from last night's Solemn High Mass, Eucharistic Procession, Stripping of Altar, and Compline. I have more but made an error that will cause any links to my smugmug page on it to be broke when I fix it later. These may be used online with a link back to this post.

I'll also be posting some information on how pictures can be ordered, once I get the link corrected. I may have to delete the gallery to fix it, so I do not recommend ordering from Smugmug yet. Parents of altar boys especially want pictures, and I've made it possible for individuals to order without my involvement. More on that later.

These flower petals will be used later.

Master of Ceremonies, Dale, processes ahead of the ministers. From the back is Fr. Perrone, the celebrant. Fr. Aidan Logan, a Cistercian monk wearing the hood is the deacon of the Mass, and Fr. John Bustamante is the subdeacon.

Next to the elevation, seen above, this below is one of the most beautiful scenes in the usus antiquior. The deacon and subdeacon are showing reverence for the sacredness of the moment when the celebrant consumes the Body of Christ and the Precious Blood. This visible sign of reverence should draw us into deeper prayer, if we are not yet there.

The Eucharistic procession begins.

Children distribute rose petals all along the path Our Lord takes to the Altar of Repose.

During the Gloria we heard the bells and trumpet. But the bells gave way to the crotalus - a wooden "clapper." Two are seen here, with one in motion. See a discussion of it at Sancta Missa. Flower petals are readily visible floor.

Altar boys are in place, kneeling at the Altar of Repose, waiting for Fr. Perrone and the Eucharist.

After the priests and altar boys exited, the remaining Consecrated Hosts were removed from the Tabernacle by Fr. Logan. Once again, the Ombrellino is used to cover the Eucharist, along with the Humeral Veil which is draped around the shoulders of the priest and over the Blessed Sacrament. This covering of the Eucharist has Old Testament roots. Think of how the Ark of the Covenant was veiled and covered. Some of these things are no longer practiced in parishes, which is a pity because it provides an opportunity to show and discuss these connections.

Any time a priest accesses the Tabernacle, it is a good, pious practice to stop and drop (kneel if possible or at least bow if unable to kneel). It is a sign of reverence for Our Eucharistic Lord who is being exposed. I learned this watching the altar boys at Grotto when I first got there.

Below we see the Stripping of the Altar by the deacon of the Mass and subdeacon. The altar boys carry away what the priests give them, and other things like flowers. We see Fr. Perrone standing in the center, and with assistance, chants from Psalm 21 (see the full prayer and discussion here, towards the end). The antiphon is striking. As the ministers remove the altar covering, the antiphon is chanted: They parted my garments amongst them, and upon my vesture they cast lots (Ps 21:19). Think about that.

The Christian altarrepresents Christ, and the stripping of the altar reminds us how He was stripped of his garments when He fell into the hands of the Jews and was exposed naked to their insults. It is for this reason that the psalm "Deus, Deus meus" is recited, wherein the Messias speaks of the Roman soldiers dividing His garments among them. This ceremonysignifies the suspension of the Holy Sacrifice. It was formerly the custom in some churches on this day to wash the altars with a bunch of hyssop dipped in wine and water, to render them in some manner worthy of the Lamb without stain who is immolated on them, and to recall to the minds of the faithful with how great purity they should assist at the Holy Sacrifice and receive Holy Communion.St. Isidore of Seville (De Eccles. Off, I, xxviii) and St. Eligius of Noyon (Homil. VIII, De Coena Domini) say that this ceremony was intended as an homageoffered to Our Lord, in return for the humility wherewith He deigned to wash the feet of His disciples.

After the Altars were stripped, the clerics and some of the altar boys chanted Compline using the older breviary.

People then gathered at the Altar of Repose until Midnight.

Around 10:00 p.m. a group of Missionaries of Charity (Mother Teresa's order) came in to sit with Our Lord. They travel quite a distance from the other side of Detroit. One is seen here in the foreground.

Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron

St. John of the Cross

Dark Night of the Soul (2.2:3)...

"...the devil causes many to believe in vain visionsand false prophecies; and strives to make them presumethat God and the saints are speaking with them; and they often trust their own fancy. And the devil is also accustomed, in this state, to fill them with presumption and pride, so that they become attracted by vanity and arrogance, and allow themselves to be seen engaging in outward acts which appear holy, such as raptures and other manifestations. Thus they become bold with God, and lose holy fear, which is the key and the custodian of all the virtues; and in some of these souls so many are the falsehoods and deceits which tend to multiply, and so inveterate do they grow, that it is very doubtful if such souls will return to the pure road of virtue and true spirituality."